Violin-piano.



P. H. WATSON.

VIOLIN PIANO.-

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 21, 1912.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l.

INVENTOR Frank HiHmrd Wafson ATTORNEYS IHE NORRIS PETERS C0,, PHC/T0-L!THO.. WASHINGTON, I: z:

F. H. WATSON.

VIOLIN PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 21, 1912.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

6 slums-sum 2.-

' INVENTOR Frank Hilliard Wafson ATTORNEYS THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTO LITHOU WASHINGTON. n. c.

F. H. WATSON.

VIOLIN PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED DEQ. 21, 1912. 1,1 17,288. Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

6 SHEETSSHEET 3 @FIHII M w A 7708/1578 THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHUIOJJTHQ, WASHINGTON. D. C.

F. H. WATSON.

VIOL IANO.

APPLICATION r 1) DEC. 21, 1912.

1,117,288. Patented Nov. 17,1 1

5 SHEETS- SHEE WITNESSES NI/EN Frank ardW n ATTORNEYS P. H. WATSON.

VIOLIN PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 21, 1912.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

INVENTOR Frank HI I hard Wafison AITOR/VEYS I WITNESSES zzfief. y W

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FRANK HILLIARD WATSON, OF JONESBORO, ARKANSAS;

VIOLIN-PIANO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

Application filed December 21, 1912. Serial No. 737,979.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK HILLIARD Wnrson, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of J onesboro, in the county of Uraighead and State of Arkansas, have invented a new and Improved Violin-Piano, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to violin pianos, such asshown and described in the Letters Patent of the United States, No. 816,268, granted to me on March 5, 1907.

The object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved violin piano arranged to permit of playing either the violin or the piano or both at the same time with the same keys, and to insure a proper contact between the broad surfaces of the endless traveling bands and the vibratory piano strings with a view to produce full and clear violin sounds.

For the purpose mentioned use is made of an endless crossed band moving across a vibratory string and having its crossed portion adjacent to the said string, the flat surfaces of the crossed portion being approximately parallel with the said string, and means for deflecting one run of the crossed band to move one fiat surface thereof in engagement with the string to sound the same.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the violin piano, parts being broken out; Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross section of the same on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional front elevation of the same on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and showing more particularly the strings and the crossed portions of the endless bands for sounding the strings; Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional plan view of a number of the endless bands and the means for moving the same into engagement with the strings, the section being on the line H of Fig. 5; Fig. 5 is a cross section of the same also showing the pneumatic means for shifting the crossed portion of the endless bands; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the pneumatics con nected with the shifting means for the endless bands; Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the swing rod for engagement with the hammer acks to render the piano action inactive; Fig. 8 is a cross section of the piano action and the means for throwing the hammer ]acks out of action; Fig. 9 is a similar view of the same and showing the parts in position at the time the hammer jacks are out of action; and Fig. 10 is a cross section of the keyboard and one of the valves of the pneumatic mechanism.

Within the piano casing A are arranged treble and bass strings B, B connected at their upper ends to tuning pins C held on the wrest plank D. The lower ends of the strings B, B are secured to the hitch pin C arranged on the metallic frame E. Both the wrest plank D and the metallic frame E are mounted on the back frame F which also supports the sounding board F located in the rear of the strings B and B. The strings B and B are adapted to be engaged by hammers Gr and dampers G forming part of the piano action G, of any approved construction, so that further detailed description of the same is not deemed necessary, it being sufficient to state that the hammers G are actuated by the hammer jacks G mounted on wippens Gd connected with the piano keys G adapted to be plaved by the performer in the usual manner; so that the hammers G strike the strings B, B and thereby sound the same. The dampers G are controlled by the usual pedal G under the control of the performer, and a pedal G7 is employed and connected with the action for reducing the throw of the hammers G.

In order to produce violin sounds use is made of a plurality of endless crossed traveling bands H extending across the strings B, B and having their crossed and flat portions disposed approximately parallel to the strings B, B so that when one of the crossed portions of a band H is shifted sidewise of the left then one of its surfaces engages the adjacent string and sounds the same. It is understood that the run of the band H used for sounding the string is disposed approximately at right angles to the string, as plainly shown in Fig. 5, and the vertical line of the crossed or warped portion in the direction of the width thereof is approximately parallel to the string so that when the run is deflected a line contact is had between the deflected run and the string. The

endless crossed banus H pass around rollers arranged in front of the strings at the upper portions thereof and each band also passes around a grooved pulley located in the rear of the strings below the wrest plank D, as plainly indicated in Fig. 2. The roller 1 is provided at its ends with pulleys 1 around which pass belts I also passing around pulleys I secured on a longitudinal shaft I journaled in suitable bearings on the sides of the casing A. On the shaft let (see Figs. 1 and 2) is secured a pulley I connected by a belt I with a pulley I secured on the motor shaft K of a motor K of any approved construction, preferably, however, of the electric type, and mounted in the lower portion of the casing A. hen the motor is running arotary motion is transmitted to the shaft I which by the pulleys I I and the belts I rotates the grooved roller I so that a traveling motion is given to the endless crossed bands H. The shaft 1 of the grooved roller I is journaled in suitable brackets I attached to the wrest plank D, as plainly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Each of the pulleys J has its shaft J journaled in a bearing J extending rearwardly on one face of the pulley, the rear end being attached to the free end of a spring J secured to a beveled block J attached to the rear of the wrest plank D by the use of a screw J or other fastening device. The upper end of the spring J is engaged by an adjusting screw J screwing in the block J so as to impart a swinging motion to the spring J 3 with a view to move the pulley J rearwardly so as to give more or less tension to the endless crossed band H. By arranging the bearings J on one face only of each pulley J, the band H can be readily placed in position on the pulley or removed therefrom for repairs or other purposes. Each band H is preferably made of specially treated rawhide, and the ends are glued together. On the back of each band H is cemented a piece of rubber cloth so as to reinforce the band and make the same durable and noiseless. It is understood that the non-covered face of the band is moved in engagement with the corresponding string B or B to sound the same. By reference to Figs. 2 and 5 it will be noticed that the active face of the band remains outermost when passing around the roller I and the corresponding pulley J so that theactive face which is coated with rosin is not injured while the band passes around the roller 1 and the pulley J.

Normally, the crossed portions of each band H are out of contact with the corresponding string, and in order to deflect one run of the band at the crossed portion so as to move the resinous surface of the said run in engagement with the string use is made of the following device: One of the runs of each band H is adapted to be engaged by a friction roller L journaled in a swing arm L held on the upper end of a vertically-dis posed shaft L journaled near its upper end in a longitudinally adjustable bearing N, while the lower end of each shaft L is journaled in a fixed bearing N secured at its ends to the sides of the casing A. N ear the lower end of each shaft L is secured a pulley L around which passes a flexible strip L secured to the pulley by a nail, screw or other fastening device L see Fig. 6). One end of the flexible strip L is connected with a spring L held on the bearing N, and the other end of the flexible strip L is connected with the movable member of a pneumatic O mounted on a valve chest or suction chamber P extending longitudinally and secured to the sides of the casing A. The valve chest P is connected with a bellows Q, connected by a link Q with the crank arm Q of a shaft Q carrying a worm wheel Q, in mesh with a worm Q? secured to or formed on the motor shaft Q, so that when the motor K is running the bellows Q is actuated to draw the air out of the valve chest or suction chamber P. Each pneumatic O is connected by a port O with the interior of the chest P, and the port 0 is controlled by a valve P held on a valve stem P connected with a diaphragm P arranged over a chamber P From the chamber l leads a port connected by a flexible tube P with a valve seat R arranged on a keyboard G (see Figs. 2 and 10). The valve seat R is normally closed by a valve R held on one end of a lever B fulcrumed on a bracket R attached to the keyboard bottom G and each key G is provided with a set screw 3* adapted to engage the forward end of the lever R at the time the key is pressed so that a swinging motion is given to the lever B to open the valve R. The lever B is pressed by a spring R to normally hold the valve R in closed position.

It is understood that when the valve R moves into open position air passes through the valve seat B into the tube l and from the latter by way of the port 0 into the chamber P to actuate the diaphragm l? and thereby move the valve P into open position. lVhen this takes place the interior of the corresponding pneumatic O is connected with the valve chest or suction chamber P by way of the port O so that the pneumatic is collapsed. When this takes place a pull is exerted on the belt L to rotate the pulley L and consequently the shaft L whereby a swinging motion is given to the arms L to move the friction roller L sidewise and thereby push the crossed portions of the endless band H in contact with the corresponding string B or 13. From the foregoing it will be seen that when any one of the keys G is pressed the corresponding band H is actuated to sound the corresponding string B or B, and at the same time the same string is sounded by the corresponding hammer G striking that particular string. It is further understood that as long as the key is pressed the corresponding traveling band H remains in contact with the corresponding string to sound the same, and when the key is re leased the several parts return to normal position owing to the action of the spring L, which latter turns the shaft L in a reverse direction to move the friction roller L out of engagement with the band H to allow the latter to return to normal inactive position.

When it is desired to play the instrument without the violin effect, the motor K is stopped so that the suction in the valve chest P ceases and consequently the pneumatics 0 remain dormant and the bands H remain out of engagement with the strings B, B. hen the keys G are now played the hammers G strike the strings B, B and sound the same as in ordinary piano playing.

In order to render the hammer action inactive to permit of producing violin effects only, use is made of a rod or bar S extending longitudinally in the rear of the hammer jacks G (see Figs. 7, 8 and 9). The rod or bar S is provided near its ends with arms S journaled in bearings S attached to the center rail G of the piano action G, and the said rod or bar S is provided with an angular arm S connected by a link S witn an arm S held on one end of a shaft S journaled in the lower portion of the casing A and connected with a pedal S so that w ran this pedal S (see Fig. 1) is pressed then a swinging motion in a forward and downward direction is given to the rod or bar S so as to throw the hammer jacks G forwardly out of engagement with the butts of the hammers G (see Fig. 9). hen the several parts are in the position described and the keys G are played then the hammers G" remain dormant while the bands H are moved in engagement with the strings B, B, as above described, so that the said strings are sounded with violin effect. The turning motion of the shafts L is limited by a pin L extending from the pulley L and adapted to abut against stop pins L held on the bottom bearing N (see Fig. 6). The up er bearing N is mounted to slide sidewise in bearings N arranged on the wrest plank D (see Fig. 3) and one end of the bearing N is pressed on by a spring N and the other end is connected by a link hi with a bell crank lever N pivoted to one side of the casing A, as plainly shown in Fig. 8. The bell crank lever N is connected by a link N with an arm N secured on shaft N journaled in the lower portion of the casing A. and connected with a pedal N (see Fig. 1) under the control of the operator, so that when it is desired to sound the strings B, B very loud by the bands H then the performer presses the pedal N to shift the bearing N from the right to the left against the tension of the spring N so that the rollers L press the bands with more or less force against a corresponding tension in addition to the movement given to the rollers by the swing arms L. lVhen the performer releases the pedal N the spring l 3 returns the bearing N to normal position.

By reference to Fig. l it will be noticed that groups of strings are used, the strings in each group being all tuned to the same pitch, each group being preferably composed of three strings in the treble and of two strings in the last two octaves of the bass.

In practice, the hammer D is of standard type and adapted to strike all the strings in the group including the string intended to be sounded by the bow band H, as above explained.

By reference to Fig. 2, it will be noticed that the crossing portions of the band H are located in the space immediately below the wrest plank D and the upper edge of the sounding board F to allow of extending the sounding board F into close proximity of the wrest plank to allow the use of comparatively short strings. The wrest plank D is preferably formed of an I-beam filled on front and rear with wooden blocks, of which the front block is laminated to provide the desired strength for the pins C. By the use of the I-beam the wrest plank D is reinforced to such an extent that no sagging is liable to take place and the strings after being tuned remain in proper tune for a considerable length of time.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A musical instrument, comprising a vibratory string, an endless bow-band moving across the said string and having crossed runs, one of the runs passing in close proximity to the string, and means for deflecting the said run to move it into engagement with the string.

2. A musical instrument, comprising a vibratory string, an endless bow-band moving across the said string and having crossed runs, one of the runs forming the string-sounding run and having a portion approximately parallel to and opposite the string, the said string-sounding run being normally out of contact with the string, and

means for deflecting the said string-sounding run to move the said portion into engagement with the said string.

3. A musical instrument, comprising a vibratory string, a driven roller in front of the said string, a pulley in the rear of the said string, a crossed endless bow-band passing around the roller and pulley, the crossed portions of the said band being adjacent the said string, and means for defiecting the run of the band adjacent the string to move the said run into engagement with the said string.

4. In a musical instrument, the combination of a piano-action having hammers, strings located to be sounded by the said piano action, a key board having keys for actuating the said piano action, endless crossed traveling bands for engagement with the said strings, and actuating means controlled by the said keys and adapted to move one run of each of the said bands into engagement with the strings at the time the hammers of the piano action sound the strings.

A piano provided with strings, endless crossed bands for sounding the piano strings, a driven roller around which pass the said bands, pulleys around each of which passes one of the said endless crossed bands,

individual suspended bearings in which the said pulleys are journaled, and spring supports for yieldingly suspending the said bearings.

6. A piano provided with strings, endless crossed bands for sounding the piano strings, a driven roller around which pass the said bands, pulleys around each of which passes one of the said endless crossed bands, individual suspended hearings in which the said pulleys are journaled, each bearing being open at one face of the corresponding pulley to allow of placing the band in position on the pulley or removing it therefrom, and spring supports for yieldingly suspending the said bearings.

7. In a musical instrument, the combination of a wrest plank, a sounding board having its upper edge spaced from the said wrest plank, vibratory strings stretched over the said sounding board and connected with the said wrest plank, endless crossed bands moving across the said strings, the crossed portions of the said bands passing between adjacent strings, and both runs of each band passing through the space betweenthe said sounding board and the said wrest plank, and means for deflecting one run of each of the crossed bands to more such defiected run into engagement with the correspouding string.

8-. In a musical instrument, the combination of a piano action having hammers, piano strings adapted to be sounded by the said hammers, keys for actuating the said hammers, endless crossed bands moving across the said strings and having the middle of their crossed portions adjacent the strings, rock shafts carrying arms adapted to engage the bands to deflect the latter to move the middle of the crossed portions of the said bands into engagement with the strings, pneumatics connected with the said shafts to rock the latter, and pneumatic valve mechanism controlling the said pneumatics and provided with lever valves arranged under the keys and controlled by the same so that on pressing a key the corresponding hammer and the corresponding band simultaneously sound the same string.

9. A musical instrument provided with endless bands for sounding the piano strings, rock shafts having arms adapted to engage the said bands to press the latter into engagement with the strings, a movable bearing for the ends of the shafts adjacent the said arms for the latter to move the bands with more or less force into engagement with the strings, and a fixed bearing for the other ends of the said shafts.

10. A musical instrument provided with endless bands for sounding the piano strings, rock shafts having arms adapted to engage the said bands to press the latter into engagement with the strings, a movable bearing for the ends of the shafts adjacent the said arms for the latter to move the bands with more or less force into engagement with the strings, a fixed bearing for the other ends of the said shafts, and a pedal mechanism for actuating the said movable shaft bearing.

11. In a musical instrument, the combination of a wrest plank, a sounding board having its upper edge spaced from the said wrest plank, vibratory strings stretched over the said sounding board and connected with the said wrest plank, endless crossed bands moving across the said strings, the crossed portions of the said bands passing between adjacent strings, and both runs of each band passing through the space between the said sounding board and the said wrest plank, means for deflecting one run of each of the crossed bands to move such deflected run into engagement with the corresponding s ring, a driven roller in front of the said strings, and pulleys suspended from the said wrest plank, the said bands passing around the said driven roller and individually around the said pulleys.

12. A musical instrument provided with endless bands for sounding the piano strings, rock shafts having arms adapted to engage the said bands to press the latter into engagement with the strings, pulleys on the said shafts, flexible strips engaging the said pulleys, springs attached to one end of the said flexible strips and pneumatics connected with the other end of the said flexible strips, and means to limit the turning motion of the said shafts.

13. A musical instrument provided with piano strings, a piano action for sounding 10 so that on pressing a key the corresponding string is simultaneously sounded by the piano action and the corresponding band.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

FRANK HILLIARD WATSON.

Witnesses:

D. M. CooLEY, J OHN R. Wns'r.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

